APRIL SHOWERS

With the lack of any sunny rays, the sun-dial on the facade of Hôtel du Cadran at 6, 8 rue Saint-Martin remained inert. But even in the rain, I love walking old Bayeux.

In French, a hôtel particulier is a grand townhouse that belonged to a wealthy nobleman. They were often built free-standing with a front courtyard and a large private garden at back. In this respect “Our Tour” is just a simple maison de ville since it was built directly facing the street in a row sharing parting walls with its neighbors. Ours was not a noble abode.

In Bayeux there are over 300 hôtel particuliers in the town center, many of which have been divided into smaller (but still very spacious) apartments or tourist lodgings. Noble or not, Bayeux’s buildings are truly a treasure and even in the wet weather the town is always so much fun to explore.